- What is the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) office?
- What is the first step to receive services from the SAS?
- How do I qualify for SAS services?
- What are reasonable accommodations?
- What kind of services can I receive if I have a disability?
- Who may be eligible for services?
- How is a verification of disability completed?
- Where is the documentation to verifying disability sent?
- What is a disability counselor?
- What if I have a learning disability?
- How do I find out if I have a learning disability?
- Must I be a student at College of Marin to get a learning disability assessment at the college?
- I'm coming to College of Marin and have to take the Placement Tests. If I need accommodations for them, what do I do?
- If I have been absent from college, do I need to apply again to SAS?
- What should I bring to my SAS appointment for accommodation letters?
- Must all students with a disability register with the SAS program?
- What does the program cost?
- When are you open?
- I had resource services at my high school, and I am currently a student at College of Marin. How can I get services?
- What if I encounter an architectural barrier on campus?
- Are test accommodations available?
- How are accommodations decided?
- What is the best way to discuss classroom accommodations with my instructor?
- What if the instructor seems unwilling or unsure of the appropriate accommodations?
- Is there a student club?
- What is the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) office?
The Program supports a wide variety of individuals with disabilities: visual, hearing, mobility, developmental, acquired brain injury; learning and psychological disabilities are within the scope of the program. SAS provides accommodations such as: counseling and academic guidance, note-takers, testing accommodations, equipment, adapted in-class furniture, enlarged print, and ASL (American Sign Language) interpreters. Special classes (Adapted P.E.) offered through SAS include specialized training and re-training in vocational, academic, creative and independent life-skills areas.
- What is the first step to receive services from the SAS?
The first step is an appointment with an experienced SAS counselor, who can assess student needs, recommend the appropriate accommodations, and make the connections with the staff who can provide those accommodations. When a student requests disability-related services, the student's disability is confirmed by a SAS counselor in accordance with state-mandated criteria. It is the student's responsibility to provide professional documentation of specific educational limitations before an academic adjustment will be authorized. To make an appointment, please call us at (415) 485-9406.
- How do I qualify for SAS services?
Eligibility for disability-related services is in accordance with federal and state laws and California Community College policies to ensure an equitable educational opportunity. A student who receives benefits or services from another agency or program (Veterans, Social Security, Department of Rehabilitation, etc.) may not always qualify for services at College of Marin. The ultimate decision regarding eligibility at College of Marin is a judgment that must be made by a SAS counselor in order to discern if a student’s disability results in an educational limitation. In addition, some accommodations that are provided in high schools, such as proofreading, reduction of course standards, and re-phrasing of exam questions are not offered. Students with disabilities must meet the same program requirements as students without disabilities.
- What are reasonable accommodations?
Reasonable accommodations are support services which allow a student to have access to an education without altering fundamental requirements.
- What kind of services can I receive if I have a disability?
Services tailored to your disability are arranged through consultation with your counselor. Your services may include a wide range of disability support services requiring authorization for accommodations. Some examples of possible services are: note-taking, testing accommodations, visual aids, sign language interpreting, alternate media, accessible furniture, adapted technology, career development, disability management counseling.
- Who may be eligible for services?
Individuals with either temporary or permanent disabilities may be eligible for services. Verifiable disabilities include, but are not limited to:- Chronic illnesses, including HIV
- Chronic pain disorders
- Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- Developmental delays
- Diabetes
- Learning disabilities
- Mobility disabilities
- Psychological disabilities
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Seizure disorders
- Visual disabilities
- How is a verification of disability completed?
Verification of a primary disability is necessary to establish eligibility for participation in SAS services. The disability will be verified by certificated SAS personnel based upon observation or documents provided by appropriate credentialed, certificated, or licensed professionals. The verification will need to identify the disability and the educational limitations that result.
- Where is the documentation to verifying disability sent?
Documentation verifying your disability (such as a psych-educational assessment of a learning disability, or a medical certificate) should be forwarded to our office as soon as you have applied to a program.
- What is a disability counselor?
Each student in the SAS program will be assigned a disability counselor to assist you to obtain services designed to accommodate individual limitations.
- What if I have a learning disability?
Please contact SAS and bring any other documentation that verifies your disability. A SAS counselor will then determine if you are eligible for services.
- How do I find out if I have a learning disability?
If you think you may have a Learning Disability discuss this with a SAS counselor. Students may be referred to a Learning Disabilities Specialist, who will discuss your situation with you in greater detail. If a Learning Disability is suspected, testing will be arranged. There is no charge for this testing, but be aware that the total process takes two or three appointments and approximately six hours of testing.
- Must I be a student at College of Marin to get a learning disability assessment at the college?
Testing to determine learning disability eligibility is available through SAS to students who are enrolled in a minimum of two units.
- I'm coming to College of Marin and have to take the placement tests. If I need accommodations for them, what do I do?
If you are interested in trying to get accommodations for the Placement Tests, please make an appointment with a SAS counselor.
- If I have been absent from college, do I need to apply again to SAS?
If you have been absent from our college for more than one semester, you must reestablish yourself with SAS. Please make an appointment to do this.
- What should I bring to my SAS appointment for accommodation letters?
Please bring a copy of current class schedule. Letters may be obtained for courses you are officially enrolled in.
- Must all students with a disability register with the SAS program?
No, participation in SAS is voluntary and students must request SAS services.
- What does the program cost?
There is no additional cost to the student for SAS services.
- When are you open?
The Kentfield campus office is open from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday – 9:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Our Indian Valley campus office is by prescheduled appointment only.
- I had resource services at my high school, and I am currently a student at College of Marin. How can I get services?
If you received resource services in high school you probably had an IEP. Please bring in a copy of your IEP from high school to help the counselor determine what accommodations would better serve you.
- What if I encounter an architectural barrier on campus?
Please let the SAS know immediately.
- Are test accommodations available?
See Student Guide to SAS Testing Services
- How are accommodations decided?
Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis by the SAS counselor regarding the student’s needs as described in his/her disability documentation.
- What is the best way to discuss classroom accommodations with my instructor?
Initiating a conversation with your instructor can be intimidating, especially if you are discussing accommodations. Check to see if the professor has posted or provided open office hours and make sure you visit during those times. You may also be able to set an appointment, which will allow you time to speak without interruption. Understand what you want before talking with the professor. Think about what you want before talking with your professor. No matter what it is, the more specific you can be when asking, the better the professor will be able to help you. If you have accommodations and want to discuss how to carry out the accommodations, be courteous about making arrangements. Rather than being demanding, ask how the accommodations could best be implemented. Accept that a professor does not need to give accommodations prior to when they were formally requested.
- What if the instructor seems unwilling or unsure of the appropriate accommodations?
If you are finding your instructor is unwilling or unsure, please come speak with a SAS counselor about the situation.
- Is there a student club?
In the past, there has been a disability students club at COM. It is currently inactive. If a student is interested in starting the club up again, please contact the SAS office.